Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela was all set to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in presence of its chief Sharad Pawar on August 23. However, he wants to meet Sonia Gandhi before leaving the Congress.

Meanwhile, the Congress workers are trying hard to coax Vaghela into staying in the party. The NCP had offered him to handle the party command in Gujarat unit.

NCP state unit president Jayant Patel said, “Vaghela is welcomed in the NCP and the party has also inducted former Congress MLA Kanaji Thakor in it.”

According to sources, Vaghela is trying to meet Sonia Gandhi for several days, but he was not given any appointment.

However, one wing of the Congress Party wants Vaghela to be placed at a respectable position in the party so that they do not have to face embarrassment in the Gujarat Assembly polls scheduled for next year.

Vaghela will also secure the position of his son Mahendra Singh, who is serving as the Congress MLA.